Pine Knoll Association
By Bud Daniels
July 2009 The Shoreline Page 7
"Water Angels"
By Phyllis Makuck
The annual Pine Knoll Association
(PKA)generalmembershipmeetingwas
held on Friday, June 19 at the Pine Knoll
Shores town hall. Four new members
of the Board of Directors were elected
to serve three year terms on the board.
The 2009-2010 association budget was
presented and plans for maintenance
and improvements to the parks,
waterways and marinas were reviewed
and discussed. Additional details of the
election results and meeting discussions
will be in the PKA article in the August
edition of The Shoreline.
The Town of Pine Knoll Shores applied
for and received a grant from the State
of North Carolina for maintenance
dredging of the town's waterways.
The grant for $50,000 is a matching
grant project with the state providing
80% ($40,000) and the Town of Pine
Knoll Shores being responsible for the
remaining 20% ($10,000). Pine Knoll
Association has agreed to partner with
the town on this project and provide
the matching funding of $10,000, since
the majority of the dredging will take
place in the canals of the Pine Knoll
Association. The town and PKA have
worked together to complete the grant
requirements, CAMA permitting
processes and determining the specific
areas that require dredging to maintain
the canals to navigable depths for our
members'and guests'boats. There will
also be some dredging done at Hall
Haven Marina in conjimction with the
replacement of the remaining fixed
docks which should begin in July.
PKA members and guests have
enjoyed the summer weather and cool
ocean breezes at Ocean Park during
the summer. Parking is not allowed
outside the gate to Ocean Park nor on
the public right of way on the south
side of Dogwood Circle. Persons using
the park and parking area should try to
car pool or make multiple trips during
the busy times due to the limitatioris on
available parking.
There are currently a few available
kayak racks at Brock Basin and Davis
Landing. PKA members interested in
renting kayak racks can contact Kathy
Kimel, PKA secretary at 240-1717 or at
pka@ec.rr.com.
June Commissioners Meeting
By Yvette Bannon
Mayor Lamson read a proclamation
declaring June 9, 2009 as "Bill White
Day" in honor of his nearly five years'
service as the managing editor of The
Shoreline. Bill given up the reins and
moving to the Charlotte area.
A certificate of appreciation was
presented for Jack Cummins to thank
him for his service on the planning
board. A public hearing was held on
the proposed FY 2009-2010 budget but
no comments were made. The budget
was then adopted unanimously. Work
on Veterans Park is progressing well
and the contractor should meet the June
30 deadline.
Under imfinished business, the town
has been awarded a grant to dredge
the canal but to avoid interfering with
summer boat traffic, this work will wait
until after Labor Day. The grant is for
$40,000 and Pine ^oll Association
(PKA) agreed to pay the town's match
of $10,000.
An amendment to the solid waste
ordinance was imanimously approved.
Second Commissioners Meeting
The second commissioners' meeting
was held on May 28 and was presided
over by Mayor Pro Tem Bob Danehy.
Under new business, the storm
recovery contracts were approved and
it was confirmed that a 5' strip of land
at 121 Dogwood has been obtained for
a beach access at a cost of $50,000.
The FY 2009-2010 proposed budget
was discussed. The commissioners
have been working on the budget
since January 22 and the town's ability
to finance its anticipated expenses
has been severely affected by the
economic downturn. Brian Kramer,
town manager, gave the budget
By Yvette Bannen
message. Limited capital expenditures
for FY 09-10 include dredging of the
canal and chaimel, updating the town
hall HVAC system and purchase of a
"bucket" truck for trimming of the town
rights of way.
The town's water enterprise fund has
reimbursed the general fund $240,000
for its payment of legal fees associated
with the purchase of the water company.
In the recommended budget, $100,000
of that money will be appropriated to
aid in the effort to maintain the current
ad valorem tax rate.
The proposed budget includes a 25%
increase in inspection fees. The fees
Property owners are required to place
their household, recycling and yard
waste on the right-of-way in front of the
property where the waste was generated
and not on an adjacent property such
as an empty lot.
Kathy Werle was appointed to
complete Jack Cummins' term on the
Plaiming Board.
The commissioners then went into
closed session to discuss a lease
agreement and persormel.
have not been increased since 2002
and it places the town in a comparable
fee structure with other area towns.
There will be an increase in ambulance
transportation fees revenue due to the
elevation of the emergency medical
services to an EMT-Intermediate level.
The police department's budget has
been reduced by approximately $45,000
due to a reduction in personnel. The
current beach sand tax rate of 10.5
cents for oceanfront property and 1.6
cents for non-oceanfront property will
be maintained in the recommended
budget.
Matthew McGuthry rescued from shores of Iron
Steamer beach on May 24,2009,
Ocean rescues take place each summer.
Having help on the scene when someone is
in trouble can make the difference between
positive and tragic outcomes. Katheryn
McGuthry, mother of Matthew McGuthry,
a near drowning victim, credits surfers with
saving her son.
Here is her account of an incident that took
place at the Iron Steamer beach on May 24th:
"My son and his friend were swimming in
the oceanonSundayaftemoonafter having
arrived in the Pine Knoll Shores area for a
vacation with family friends. During their
swim, my 14-year old son and his 15-year
old friend were caught up in a rip tide."
The other boy was able to "break free," but
Matthew was not. "The family encouraged
him to swim parallel to the shore assuming
that he would eventually find an exit path
from the current."
Seeing that Matthew continued to be in
danger, the father of the other boy went in
to try to help. Mrs. McGuthry continues:
"They both were pulled further out into
the ocean and struggled to keep afloat...."
Their screams attracted the attention of
surfers, who got to them and put each one
on a surfboard. Two surfers moved each
board safely to shore.
The Pine Knoll Shores Fire Department
also received the call, and according to Fire
Chief Bill Matthias, "An ambulance, beach
rescue, and water rescue imit responded."
After assessing all three swimmers who
had been in trouble, the emergency team
determined Matthew was still showing
signs of distress so they took him to the
hospital, where he was examined and,
later, released.
Beforehewasputintheambulance, surfers
responsible for the rescue talked briefly with
the family and had words of encouragement
for Matthew, but, his mother says: "They
were gone before anyone could contemplate
an appropriate response. Subsequent to the
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